At your service: D&W's Michael Boice of Grand Haven never forgets a face

Chronicle/Nick TremmelMichael Boice of Spring Lake has worked at D&W Fresh Market in Grand Haven for 16 years and in the pharmacy as a technician for nearly 10. "It has it's good days and bad days," said Boice, who was a cashier, a bagger and worked in the bakery prior to being promoted to the pharmacy.

And, because of a condition that has proved both a challenge and a gift, those customers’ faces — and their birthdates and phone numbers — are very familiar to Boice.

After joining the D&W staff at age 18, Boice, now 34, has steadfastly worked his way into more responsible positions. His ascent through the store’s ranks, despite being diagnosed in 10th grade with Asperger Syndrome, is nothing short of inspirational.

His successful D&W career began in the bottle department. He soon graduated to service clerk and then had a stint in the bakery. In 1997, he achieved his goal of becoming a cashier, and, since 1999, he has been the friendly face people see behind the pharmacy counter, where he is a pharmacy technician.

While known for his sense of humor, outgoing personality and excellent customer service, it’s his exceptional gift for remembering numbers — most notably birthdays — that most fascinates those he meets.

Chronicle/Nick TremmelMichael Boice counts out pills for a prescription.

“Hey, 2-1,” he’ll call out to a customer whose birthday is on Feb. 1. To another, he’ll say, “It’s your birthday next Wednesday; Have a happy birthday.”

“I’m a record keeper,” Boice said. Since 1993, he has recorded the birthdays of friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers and customers. That handwritten list now numbers 1,832, and includes many people Boice has met only once.

But he doesn’t have to consult the list to recall a birthday. The numbers are right there in his mind. Chances are, if he knows your name, he also knows your birthday, and vice versa. One can give him any name on the list and without pause he will say the month and day of that person’s birth. Or you can give him a month and day, and he will give you the name of the person whose birthday that is, and all the others that are on the same date. Diplomatically, he is careful not to mention the year.

“When I look at a person, I just automatically think of their birthday,” he said. “My mind works like a file folder. Every day I know whose birthday it is.”

Boice said he often goes so far as to make a personal phone call with a birthday greeting. “I use this gift God has given me to spread joy, by serving others and not for personal gain. Sometimes it will be the only (recognition) that person got. Its purpose is to make people happy.”

Researchers have determined that people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome tend to think in concrete rather than abstract terms and are proficient at memorizing.

Chronicle/Nick TremmelJoy VanderKolk of Spring Lake picks up a prescription from Michael Boice.

In the book “What Is Asperger Syndrome?” co-author Barbara Kirby said “It’s important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently.” She goes on to say that those with Asperger Syndrome have a normal IQ and many individuals exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area.

“The Asperger person will have had to learn with great effort what others absorb quite naturally.

“What’s significant about Michael is the kindness he affords all people, his dedication to effort and task, and his love of God. Every parent takes a different walk, and this has been ours. ”

Patti and Bill Boice, Michael’s father, noticed his predilection for number memorization at an early age, Patti Boice said. On the family’s first driving trip to Florida and back, Boice had memorized all the exit numbers where a particular restaurant chain could be found. Once, at a local stop sign, he told his mom it was the 77th time they had passed there.

Boice’s gift really came to light at church when his parents realized their son knew the number of every hymn in the hymnal, and how many times it had been sung by the congregation.

Chronicle/Nick TremmelMichael Boice of Spring Lake has worked at D&W Fresh Market in Grand Haven for 16 years and in the pharmacy as a technician for nearly 10.

Boice’s special talents have served him well. He can remember every PLU, “produce look up” code, he’s learned since his days as a cashier. He said that it’s always given him an advantage because he can remember all the customers’ names and faces.

D&W pharmacist Tom Spoelman said Boice had a pure sort of genius.

“His memory makes him an indispensable technician,” Spoelman said. “His picks are always absolutely perfect. He can look at a piece of paper or prescription bottle, and, faster than anyone, see it’s expired or the wrong date. I call him the Ever Ready Bunny because of his work ethic.”

In addition to keeping statistics, Boice’s hobbies include playing the piano and organ, and golf.

“I do feel that people understand things easier than I do,” Boice said. “I know I don’t see the big picture. But we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, each unique from the other.”